RSS Feed MenuA government “draft” document outlining Canada’s role in Afghanistan after combat troops are withdrawn next July (as promised by the PM), seems to be one of those altruistic proposals designed by academics that barely touch on reality.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has acknowledged the existence of the document (apparently released to the Globe and Mail via Freedom of Information) that says Canada’s goals for Afghanistan, post-2011, should be to prevent a Taliban resurgence and ensure the country won’t be a “base for terrorism.” Also, to train a national army and police force, and develop diplomacy and harmony, and advance rule of law and human rights, and deliver humanitarian aid. All at a cost of some $550 million over three years.
Sound reasonable? Sure, all things being equal. But this is Afghanistan, where very little is equal.
Consider what our soldiers (and NATO) have been trying to do since they first arrived there in Afghanistan in 2002 – with deteriorating effect ever since.
A civilian presence in Afghanistan aimed at helping the people and encouraging peace and security is, literally, the last thing the Taliban want. And what the Taliban oppose, the Taliban blows up if they can. What prevents further incursions and violence by the Taliban is the military. If Canadian civilians are predominant in Afghanistan without military protection – i.e. Canadian or NATO soldiers – you can bet your pension they’ll be attacked by elements that don’t want Afghanistan to be a functioning, non-Taliban country.
Mr. Harper is adamant that combat troops be withdrawn next July, even though there may be some sort of military presence. What sort of presence, if not combat troops?
When the first Canadian battle group of the 3 Battalion Princess Patricias first arrived in Kandahar in 2002, our troops quickly dispersed to villages, shed helmets and flak jackets and helped rebuild schools, dig wells, and repair damage inflicted by the Taliban.
American forces tended to a Fort Apache approach, while Canadians mixed with villagers, establishing trust and rapport. Broadly speaking, Afghans did not want, and do not want, Taliban rule to be resumed.
Steadily Afghanistan deteriorated until today U.S. President Obama – who made the Afghanistan mission his “war” – decided that he’d had enough and intended to withdraw. He fired Gen. Stanley McChrystal and replaced him with Gen. David Petraeus who’s on record saying it’s important not to give a deadline for leaving as that encourages the enemy to outlast our guys.
True – but that’s exactly what Obama and Harper have done – telegraphed their punches.
For all intents and purposes, Canada blithely seems intent on putting civilians into Afghanistan without full military protection. It won’t work. We already know the Afghan National Army (ANA) can fight – but only as rudimentary infantry with courage but little tactical or sophisticated know-how. How many Afghan soldiers can read a map or understand coordinates for artillery and mortars? Meanwhile, as if anticipating that Canada’s combat role in future international missions will be muted or limited, the government seems to be backing off its previous laudatory support of the military. Witness the firing of Pat Stogran as veterans ombudsman – a field soldier who fought for veterans with the same tenacity that he fought the enemy when he commanded that Patricias in Kandahar. Draft papers notwithstanding, sending Canadian civilians to Afghanistan without protection verges on irresponsible folly.
LFC // Aug 26, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Consider what our soldiers (and NATO) have been trying to do since they first arrived there in Afghanistan in 2002 – with deteriorating effect ever since.
Actually, not really. Bush parked some soldiers here and pretty much left them twisting in the wind while he ran off to attack Iraq. Serious efforts and support were abandoned until Obama took office.
My guess is that the Canadians have no faith in the U.S. gov’t and military to pull out any sort of stability after allowing the situation to fester for 7 years.
forgetn // Aug 26, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I don’t know what to say to Worthington’s idiotic commentary, except: That ’s how we do things in a democracy. By the way, its not like the Afghan could not figure out that Canada is leaving the country all on their own!
Its rather obvious!
As for the strategy that the Canadians want to use it seems reasonable. Implementation will obviously be complex (and dangerous) but what else is there — bomb the country back to the Middle Ages (been there, done that).
The Taliban is not the only player on the ground, it is far from certain that they will win the fight to establish dominance on the country. That should be obvious too.
It would be stupid to believe for one second that Canada/USA could impose its value on a nation that has succeeded for centuries (literally) in driving invaders to through in the towel (ask the Brits and the Russians).
Afghanistan will end up with tribal leaders, there will be no democracy — with luck it will not be a theocracy. That more or less the best the “allies” can hope for in this situation. It cheapens the efforts of the Canadian and American fighters to believe they could achieve anything else.
blowtorch_bob // Aug 26, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Why not have th taliban provide protection. After all, according to NATO’s own intelligence analysis the Taliban are already providing things like health clinics and schools etc in the areas they control. So why ruin a good thing.
Rob_654 // Aug 27, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Canada had the good sense to stay out of Vietnam – and I am glad to see that they are once again being far wiser than the United States and are deciding to get out of the debacle of Afghanistan.
armstp // Aug 27, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Peter,
The deadline puts the Afghan govt on notice. They need to get their act together because the foreign protection will not be there forever. After 8 years and little progress from the Afghan govt I believe that setting a deadline is the right approach.
And who cares if the Taliban know about a deadline and say they will simply wait it out? The Taliban have very little chance of re-taking Afghanistan even if the U.S. and Canada leave. There is no evidence that the Taliban have the strength to take control of the country. Previously, it took them 10 years of fighting to just take part of Afghanistan. The many warlords, Northern Alliance and the Afghan military are stronger now. They also have the biggest airforce in the world behind them, who wiped out the Taliban the first time around in just a few weeks. It is one thing for the Taliban to use hit n run tactics in a guerilla war where they come out at night time, but entirely different for them to take and hold a whole country with front lines. At best the Taliban will have control of some southern provinces and rural areas if the U.S. military leaves.